Sunday, May 5, 2013

Rode 2 Today

I didn't get started until almost noon, just wasn't in the mood to ride in less than 50° weather.  There was still quite a bit of snow in the ditches and in the woods, but it was disappearing rapidly today.

County N, distant hills across the broad valley, this a tight, 90° turn.


On County KK, steep, curvy and today, very sandy


Stopped in Nelson for a cone, sat down for a conversation with Doug and Craig, both of whom I expect to see in two weeks at the Great River Road Rally (GR3) put on by the Madison BMW Club.  The world may stop turning this year if I actually show up at a BMW rally on a Bavarian machine.

Home and then took the old '70 Honda out around the block.  Other than needing a new (quieter) muffler without holes, it ran well.  The original shocks weren't 'shocked' at all, only springs.  I had trouble locating replacements, ended up with Honda C70 shocks that worked once I'd done some machining.  They should work just fine for as much as this will get ridden.

Lake Pepin and Wisconsin in the background.  We see these same bluffs from our home.


(Erik, 2 Degree symbols in one Post!!)

14 comments:

  1. Looks like the snow is melting fast ... I'd not be in a hurry to ride in the cold either.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As long as we're this close to summer, why ride in barely above freezing when in a few short days summer temps will arrive. By afternoon, it was lovely.

      Delete
  2. Funny how we would ride in the autumn in 50 degrees not wanting to let go...and yet riding in springtime 50 degrees seems...cold. At least that's how it is with me!

    I love the old motorcycles.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The old ones can be fun, are fun, as long as you're patient and can cope with situations when things don't go as planned.

      Delete
  3. Nice old RT (but I'm a little partial to them) but the roads really do look sandy. Do they actually sweep them or just wait for traffic to push it to the shoulder?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Richard, the RT is actually working well, at least as far as I know. Many if not all of the local municipalities try and sweep. I think much washes off by the time they get out, probably depends on how hilly each Town is and how many roads they have that received that much sand.

      Delete
  4. Yay! I hear ya about waiting until it warms up. I rode all winter in the rain and I am going to rethink that this year, just makes my 'getting older' bones ache. Love the Honda, what a beautiful bike! We are in like a mini summer mode here, I hope it lasts because last year it didn't come until September.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Dar, my brother bought the green one in 1970, his first "mine only" machine. I'd wish for a long, lovely riding season for us all.

      Delete
  5. So glad you were able to get out on the bikes. It is nice that the snow is melting. Soon your temperatures will even out and stay warm. Fingers crossed.

    That Honda is quite photogenic. Nice!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Brandy, the green was a very bright, early 70's color......and then much later they brought back a slightly different shade for big Kawasaki's .....;^)

      I can't wait for our first rally!

      Delete
  6. Having the choice of bikes... what's not to love. Love the green of the Honda, is it still the original color?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sonja, yes, that's the way it came. There's some slight fading on the front metal fender, otherwise it's in pretty good shape. We rode it, dad sometimes took it along camping on the pickup but it never just sat outside.

      Delete
  7. I like your SL-100. When I was about 13 or 14, my neighbor had one just like it. I had the SL-70. It was warm up here today and the driveway is just about solid enough to get bike out. Maybe tomorrow I'll get to go for another ride...

    ReplyDelete